SCHENECTADY— A Niskayuna man faces up to 25 years in prison after a jury convicted him of raping a woman near Town Hall in 2010.

The panel on Monday afternoon also found Abel Melendez Jr. guilty of misdemeanor petit larceny for stealing the Niskayuna woman's cellphone after sexually assaulting her during the early hours of Oct. 16, 2010. He was found not guilty of robbery. The woman, who was 21 at the time of the crime, testified during the trial.

The defendant, also 21 at the time, used the phone to send vulgar text messages to two of the woman's friends, according to the prosecution. Melendez told police that he later threw the phone into a lake. He did not testify at the trial.

The phoned messages and DNA evidence were pivotal in the case against Melendez, said Assistant District Attorney Christina Tremante-Pelham, who handled the prosecution.

She said she plans to ask Visiting Judge Felix Catena for the maximum penalty against Melendez at his May 2 sentencing.

"The evidence was strong to support the case of rape in the first-degree," said Tremante-Pelham, who lauded the cooperation between Niskayuna and State Police and the district attorney's office.

Defense Attorney Mark Juda argued that the sex between Melendez and the woman was consensual.

The woman did not know Melendez prior to the attack that occurred after he befriended her as she walked home after socializing with her friends.

Melendez rode alongside the victim on a bicycle and talked casually with her before hopping off his bike and attacking her between two buildings near the intersection of Balltown Road and Nott Street.

He has another unrelated felony case pending in Schenectady County Court, said authorities.